Army Ends Standoff between Hizbullah, March 14 Supporters at USJ Huvelin Campus

by Naharnet Newsdesk25 November 2013, 14:15

Tensions were high at the Universite Saint Joseph in the Huvelin neighborhood in Beirut on Monday in light of Hizbullah supporters' protest against recent student elections results, reported MTV.

It said that the supporters surrounded the campus in protest, sparking tensions between them and the March 14 students.

The army soon intervened however averting any clash between the rival camps, reported the National News Agency on Monday.

Students have since left the scene and security forces are working on ensuring security around the campus.

Earlier, Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel contacted Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and USJ's President Father Salim Daccache demanding that they “assume their responsibilities regarding the provocations at the campus.”

The student elections were held at USJ last week.

An alliance between the Lebanese Forces and March 14 forces won the majority of seats at three of the campus's four faculties, while independent students swept the last faculty.

Gemayel later revealed during a press conference that the tensions were caused in light of Hizbullah supporters' painting of graffiti in the campus hailing Habib al-Shartouni, who was convicted of the assassination of former President Bashir Gemayel in 1982.